I keep getting asked by friends and contacts for a Substack update.
“About what?” I ask, disbelieving that anyone wants to know as much about female narcos as I do.
“About you and what you’re working on and thinking about,” one particularly avid (misguided?) fan said.
Given that I have not been as disciplined as I had hoped to post weekly, both fact and fiction, this seems a good way to get me to respect my promises, both to you the readers, and to myself.
The last two months have, to be fair, been spent on a few equally if not more urgent things. Mainly, putting in place some paid work after the demise of VICE News. I’m happy to report that the challenge has been met, for now.
Projects now on my docket include:
Creating a pitch for a NARCAS documentary with a UK-based production company.
Creating a pitch for a NARCAS podcast with a UK-based podcast production company.
Re-working NARCAS for its Spanish-language manifestation for next year.
Writing a new book proposal on how aspiring criminals can create a narco state.
Writing and editing for two of the most authoritative sources on organized crime and security in the region.
Some of the other non-work things I’ve been mulling over a great deal.
How to parent without losing my shit, and my mind.
How many conflicting things can be true at once, and how perception is everything.
To be careful what I worship.
How my ability to focus is defined almost by my willingness to focus.
The importance of self-forgiveness and acceptance.
How sometimes being “productive” is doing nothing at all.
Hit me up if you need me to elaborate.